Scope: The CA Easytrieve for z/OS will be upgraded to Version11.5. The version 11 release is unlike prior versions because its architecture resulted in a new version of both the language compiler and the runtime system. The changes introduced with CA Easytrieve version 11.5 are extensive, and complete migration to this new release is expected to be potentially prolonged and may require considerable user modifications and or testing to ensure a smooth migration.
However, this release provides the ability to run your programs in "compatibility" mode. In this mode, programs are compiled as in the current 6.4 version and you can put off testing and using any of version 11's new functionality. Version 11.5 will be initially distributed with the options table in compatibility mode by default. Testing of the new function mode will be available by adding a special DD statement to your JCL that invokes CA Easytrieve.
Effective Date: The rollout will begin in the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2012 with Service Center RFCs scheduled with the MVS Maintenance Window IPLs.
Group Name: National MVS Software Support team
Affected Locations: All sites where CA Easytrieve for z/OS version 6.4 is installed and being used.
Summary: CA Easytrieve will be upgraded in compatibility mode and after the upgrade users of CA-Easytrieve will be required to start testing of new function mode. Eventually after several months compatibility mode will be turned off and the default will be new function mode. When new function mode is made the default mode a fall back will be made available to still execute in compatibility mode.
Justification: To Notify CA Easytrieve users about the new version of Easytrieve along with the required actions after the new version is rolled out.
Benefits to Users: To Notify CA Easytrieve users about the new version of Easytrieve along with the required actions after the new version is rolled out.
Details: After you start running your programs in compatibility mode and as you move programs and applications through your next development cycle, you can start enabling the new function mode. Enable the new function mode by using the new EZOPTBL DD in your JCL to point to the new function mode options table. The new function mode options table dataset is data set SYS2.EZTPLUS.EZOPTBLN. Thus to test new function mode after version 11.5 is installed add the following DD statement to your Easytrieve JCL:
//EZOPTBL DD DISP=SHR,DSN=SYS2.EZTPLUS.EZOPTBLN
Once a site is comfortable that the majority of applications process correctly using new function mode, the default system-wide options table will be updated to set NEWFUNC(Y). When this is done you will no longer need to code the EZOPTBL DD statement to execute in new function mode. In this way, the majority of users can continue to use new function mode, by default, without having to code an EZOPTBL override. If you need to still execute in compatibility mode after new function mode is made the default there is a fallback option. A fallback options table will be created that is set to compatibility mode. Instructions for fallback to compatibility mode will be provided in further communications as we get closer to turning on new function mode by default.
If you exclusively compile and link your programs, the load modules created under prior release will continue to run in version11.5. In this case, you can migrate directly to new function mode, but you must test the compiled programs.
Note: Compatibility mode is intended to be used as a temporary migration aid, and will likely NOT be supported or available in future releases of the Easytrieve product.
Special Notes for specific systems:
On the CLIPC1B and MCCS1 systems Easytrieve users who currently steplib to SYS2.EZTPLUS.PANMAC.OPTION and want to test or move to new function mode will need to remove the steplib and add the following DD statement to their JCL:
//EZOPTBL DD DSN=SYS2.EZTPLUS.EZOPTBL1,DISP=SHR
On PLIPC1A, PLIPC3D, and PLIPC4B systems Easytrieve users who currently steplib to SYS2.EZTPLUS.LOADLIB.PDSOPT and want to test or move to new function mode will need to remove the steplib and add the following DD statement to their JCL:
//EZOPTBL DD DSN=SYS2.EZTPLUS.EZOPTBL1,DISP=SHR
On PLIPC1B, Easytrieve users who currently steplib to SYS2.EZTPLUS.CAILIB.PDSOPT and want to test or move to new function mode will need to remove the steplib and add the following DD statement to their JCL:
//EZOPTBL DD DSN=SYS2.EZTPLUS.EZOPTBL1,DISP=SHR
On PLIPC1B Easytrieve users who currently steplib to SYS2.EZTPLUS.CAILIB.PDSOPT2 and want to test or move to new function mode will need to remove the steplib and add the following DD statement to their JCL:
//EZOPTBL DD DSN=SYS2.EZTPLUS.EZOPTBL2,DISP=SHR
On PLIPC4B Easytrieve users who currently steplib to SYS2.EZTPLUS.LOADLIB.PDSOPT2 and want to test or move to new function mode will need to remove the steplib and add the following DD statement to their JCL:
//EZOPTBL DD DSN=SYS2.EZTPLUS.EZOPTBL2,DISP=SHR
On all systems Easytrieve users who currently steplib to SYS2.EZTPLUS.CAILIB.SYSVIEW and want to test or move to new function mode will need to remove the steplib and add the following DD statement to their JCL:
//EZOPTBL DD DSN=SYS2.EZTPLUS.EZOPTBLS,DISP=SHR
Other notes for users:
1. Dependent Product Documentation Changes:
Users of the following related products should be aware of documentation changes necessary for compatibility with CA Easytrieve version 11.5:
PRODUCT: CA-Easytrieve Plus Tool Kit-MVS RELEASE: 2.0
PRODUCT: CA-PANAUDIT/PLUS-MVS RELEASE: 3.0
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: EZTC0173E/EZTC0084E ALPHACON missing CALLCOUNTER
---------------------------------------------------------------------
These Easytrieve r11 compile-time errors may occur if the ALPHACON macro is invoked multiple times to convert to numeric fields of different lengths or decimal places. The CALLCOUNTER parm needs to be added to the macro invocation.
This change is necessary for compatibility with CA Easytrieve version 11.
2. Macro Parameter Substitution
If you need to pass a hexadecimal literal as a parameter, you must pass it first as an alphanumeric literal ('X''xx'').
3. Error Messages Displayed in DBCS Characters.
If you are using the CA Easytrieve DBCS feature, you can ensure that any Runtime error message displays in DBCS characters. However, the Compiler does not support messages in DBCS format. DBCS Compile messages are planned for a future release.
4. Compiler Syntax Rules
In many places in the compiler of this release, the syntax checking of statements has been enhanced. This helps ensure that the language remains consistent and unambiguous. A couple of examples of these areas are as follows:
VSAM File Processing
As documented, the FILE statement within r11 continues to honor programs coded with a FILE statement using VS as a file type for compatibility purposes. However, prior releases allowed you to specify either ES or KSDS without checking for the use of a KEY for KSDS files. The r11 release now produces a compile error if Entry Sequential (ES) access is specified and a key is then supplied on a subsequent READ statement.
IMS Statements
Parsing of various statements within r11 may cause compile error messages. This was reported under the following circumstances. A statement from an existing Easytrieve program accessing IMS was coded as follows:
RETRIEVE file-name +
SELECT (Field-name) +
WHERE (Field-name-LEN < Max-Length AND +
Field-name-LEN > Min-Length)
This version of the compiler issues an error on the WHERE statement as not being valid for a RETRIEVE. This error occurred because the WHERE is actually a part of the SELECT. In this case, parentheses were not included according to the statement documentation. Correct syntax for this statement would be:
RETRIEVE file-name +
SELECT ( (Field-name) +
WHERE (Field-name-LEN < Max-Length AND +
Field-name-LEN > Min-Length) )
5. VSAM MACRO Support Removed
MACRO library support for TYPE=VSAM is no longer provided. Existing MACRO=VSAM users should convert to MACRO=PDS.
For additional information about the new version of CA Easytrieve consult the vendor manuals
Refer to the CA Easytrieve Report Generator for z/OS Release Notes document(s) for complete details regarding new features and changes to existing features in this release, too numerous to list here.
Primary Contact: vinay.marapaka@hp.com
Secondary Contact: : Michael Brennan – mbrennan@hp.com
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Usercomm - CA EASYTRIEVE FOR Z/OS version 11.5.0 upgrade. 